A One-Day Workshop on ‘AI-Assisted Research in Drug Discovery and Development: Hands-on Training on Molsoft ICM Pro’ was organized by KVV’s Krishna Institute of Pharmacy, Karad on 12th November 2024 in collaboration with Advent Informatics Pvt. Ltd., Pune.

The workshop, conducted at Tierra Hall, KIMS, Karad, aimed to bring together research scholars and academicians in the field of computational chemistry to discuss concepts of drug design, free computational tools, their applications, and hands-on training modules. It also served as a platform for academic networking, collaboration, and exchange of innovative ideas. The sessions included a keynote address, expert talks, panel discussions, and hands-on software training.

Inaugural Session

The program commenced in the esteemed presence of:

• Prof. (Dr.) N. R. Jadhav – President of the event, Convenor & Dean, Krishna Institute of Pharmacy
• Dr. Ramesh L. Sawant – Chief Guest, Vice-Principal, Senior Professor & HOD, Dr. VVPF’s College of Pharmacy, Ahmednagar
• Dr. Dipak P. Mali – Coordinator & Associate Professor, Krishna Institute of Pharmacy

Dr. Jadhav outlined the workshop objectives during his keynote address.

Expert Talks

• Dr. Ramesh L. Sawant delivered a session on Fundamentals of Drug Design and Discovery, emphasizing the importance of scientific interpretation over software handling.
• Dr. Dipak P. Mali presented on Molecular Descriptors in QSAR, explaining their types and significance.
• Dr. Prafulla B. Choudhari, Associate Professor, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur, spoke on Online Tools for Computational Research, showcasing various free tools useful for drug discovery studies.

Hands-on Training

In the evening session, Dr. Mohsin Khan Pathan, Application Scientist at Advent Informatics Pvt. Ltd., Pune, conducted hands-on training on Molsoft ICM Pro at the RA Lab. Participants learned practical applications such as:

• Molecular docking
• QSAR studies
• Pharmacophore modelling
• Key features and workflows of the Molsoft software

Valedictory

The workshop concluded with a valedictory function, where Dr. D. P. Mali proposed a vote of thanks, marking the successful completion of an informative and interactive academic event.